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Friday, January 12, 2018

Full Detailed State Department Mexico Travel Advisory and travel tips

By Chivis Martinez for Borderland Beat

After the U.S. State
department’s 10.10.2018 Mexico travel warnings, many people were confused and
wondered why a certain city or state was not on the list. The fact is, main stream media chooses to
highlight certain locals and only include a morsel of the overall
listings. For whatever reason seldom is
the actual warning republished in full. I have uploaded the warning to my
scribd page and embedded it in this post.
This gives you a total and accurate account of the advisory.

It lists states,
cities, level of caution, with level 4 being the greatest warning, stating an
entire state should be off limits regarding travel. It also gives specifics to
each locale and what restrictions imposed on government employees.

As far as travel, some
common sense actions should be followed, like the use of ATMs, or which taxis
to use or avoid, but since narco violence is fluid, one really should check and
know before you go.

Advisory
warning system

The travel advisory
system the U.S. uses 4 warning levels and color codes marked on a map;

1 Exercise normal precautions–No Color

2 Exercise increased caution-Yellow

3 Reconsider Travel-Orange

4 Do not travel-Red

Keep in mind that the warnings
are based on all crimes and are not specific to crimes related to foreigners. Also are not area specific, meaning the
violence may be in a city but not in an area frequented by tourists. Mexico places high value on tourism and it is
typical for the federal government to send in the military to guard resort
areas.

The State Department has
reported “that major international tourist destinations in Mexico are
safe" and have no travel restrictions.

Every country in the
world is evaluated using this system.

As a country, Mexico
was given a level 2, or "exercise increased caution," putting it in
in the same category with France, Spain and the United Kingdom. A noted
difference is that Western European
countries' advisories are based on terrorism, in Mexico it is based on criminality.

Click on any image to enlarge

Travel
Advisory Map

Travelers can also use
the color coded map state map. The state
of Quintana Roo [Cozumel, Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen and Cancun] is
outline in green meaning no advisory is in effect]

Last year there was a
level 2 advisory for Quintana Roo stating "turf battles between criminal
groups that have resulted in violent crime in areas frequented by U.S.
citizens."

This year, Baja California Sur, is outlined in yellow,
color code for Level 2, with the State Department suggesting "exercising
caution in of La Paz", and said that the state capital city registered its
highest homicide rate since 1997.

However, elsewhere in Los Cabos
in Baja Sur, there are no travel restrictions.

Other
Tips

Check the State
Department website.

If information confuses,
call the consulate ask for recent activity.

I advise that in most
cases if you check the position of the U.S. government, regarding travel by
government employees, that is a pretty good compass.

Check consulate/embassy
websites for advisories and advice for specific travel.

Register with STEP. The
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and
nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest
U.S. Embassy or Consulate. https://step.state.gov/step/

Receive important information from
the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country, helping you
make informed decisions about your travel plans.

Help the U.S. Embassy contact you in
an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency.

Don’t rely on news
articles. They are grossly wrong or incomplete. Examples; a recent story headline “11 killed in Acapulco” when in fact it was a ejido dispute with the government
over 2 hours travel time away from Aca. [See the distance in the map below.]

Or the reporting on “Los
Cabos”. Headlines touting an incident “in
the tourist mecca Cabos” without clarifying it was in San Jose not San Lucas. A world of difference. Although
there are no advisories on either. Be aware, informed, careful, but also be
smart in knowing what the truth is.

Remember, 20 million
trips to Mexico by Americans each year with extremely little violence occurring. And the state department tacks all incidents
and are made public each year. Drowning
is a threat in places like Cabo San Lucas, not physical harm.

The travel advisory document below, can be adjusted for specific viewing by using the icons at bottom or
linking directly to my scribd page using the link at top of the document and using the tools there.

63 comments:

Over the last 15 years, I have traveled thru Tamuelipas between Matamoros and Ciudad Valles by bus and car over 50 times and never had a problem. This included early 2011 when Zeta/CDG split, which was a very scary time going through San Fernando and Mante. When and where have buses been attacked by the mania? With the exception of the gladiator stories and Commandante Kilo's reign of terror in San Fernando, there is no specific news of recent bus attacks. Also I hear nothing from locals or other tourists people traveling through that part of Mexico. I wonder if the State Department advisory is based on old news regarding buses being intercepted by CDG/CDN. Where can I get information on specific bus attacks?

9:09; Im with you. I cross NL and drive thru MTY, Torreón, and then it’s getting close to dark in Durango. I continue on now the new 40D over the 2-3 hours in mountains, then hit 15 north and end up on NW side of Culiacan around 2-3am Done this last 18 years - before, during, after (if it is now after) the big drug wars and we’ve never had a single problem. 4 to 6 times a year and leaving at 5am tomorrow again - and can’t wait! Always driven new SUV or Lobo and never had problem once! I don’t know what Michoacan is like but NL, Tamps, Coahuila, DGO and Sinaloa isn’t out hunting for my family - and maybe it’s b/c we don’t look the part; but guarantee we look wealthy compared to most on highway in Mexico.

"Tanto va el cantaro al agua,Hasta que por fin se quebra"That means: from going so much to the water, the mud pot finally breaks.It means like after every chance you take you get close to the last one, some say as long as chances keep getting smaller they will never end.Whatever works for you, I won't tempt the Lord, YOU BE HIS GUEST.

Through out my lifetime of traveling to Mexico, the only time I seen violence was the same night Z40 killed and hanged those people on a bridge in Nuevo Laredo. I believe it was April 2011. In early August of 2017 I had travel back to the states via nvo laredo. Days later I was on valor por Tamaulipas(website) they had report several shootings the same day I travel back to the states. Anyone who travels in Mexican toll roads will say it’s actually safe to travel even though out the night.

40D & 85D are considered good toll roads in my books, id wish the Monterrey -Saltillo section would be improved. Sometimes I’m the only truck traveling in a pack of truckers.

Huh? Tamps is definitely the MOST dangerous state by far. Heck, the only way to drive to Matamoros and Reynosa is by following the daily Federal police escort. pinche madre, try driving the Death Highway 101 on your own, amigo. Veracruz is so dangerous i doubt DEA has zero agents in town.

When you are DEA or CIA, or work for Frontier Services Group, you are untouchable, nobody wants to get his ass fingered like El Amarillo Zapata zeta for murdering "ICE AGENTS" in mexico.All others pay with their ass sooner than later.

5:30 . You got it . All chapo has to do is to get the person of his choice elected president . No big deal for a stepper like chapo . Don't know who it would be though . Bill Clinton is maxed out and Hillary may be needing a pardon soon herself .

@5:30 & 6:55 I, did not see you guys so depressed when Chapo was free and sending death squads all over Mexico killing even innocents who spoke against the narco trade. What just because you fuckers have wet dreams about him everybody should also now???

Mass murdering events are not the way of life on the USMass murdering is a way of life in mexico for its melitary and sicarios, polizetas and FUERZAS DELICTIBAS ESTATALES MANDO UNICO that must pay their employers in government for their uniforms and weapons with their daily quotas and fees.

Some terrorist events on the US like the tzarnaevs get complicated IF one of their teachers used to be CIA, OR if the WTC bought plenty billion dollar insurance policies "in case some airplanes hit the WTC loaded with thermite, or shit like that, say "Architects and Engineers for Truth 9/11"Timothy McVeigh who trained with Indiana Ku-Klux-Klan Klavern Militias to create fertilizer explosives was executed QUICK and kept from talking, but like most terrorists on the US their operations are private enterprise not US government like mexico's.

State Department issues these alerts and although not perfect they are very credible. It is up to us to take self responsibility. I have had great cooperation with the consulate offices and they do respond to emails within a couple a days, or call. The media is the worse, which is why I decided to make a post. Even the narco violence news on BB can be deceptive because for travel it does not give a complete picture. It may be in Cancun lets say but in an area where tourist do not go and narco violence exists. However remember there are those bad people, just as in any tourist destination in the world who watch and prey on tourists for other crimes.

1:57 Done did it, no problem.Specially since the city cleaned up everything close to the lake for some "special investors" under guise of "the Olympics".--Some people died, some were raped, many were innocent citizens, elderly, and women, but mobsters foreign to the city took over City Hall with kickbacks and retirement packages to Make Chicago Great Again with BILLIONS AND BILLIONS of dollars charged to the peepols' bank creditors...their great great grandchildren will owe a debt of gratitude IN CASH to the banks looong after the goldened promises of great wealth are all peeling off the great walls (graffiti may help them some) like the Taj-Mahal today...--But the Flores Twins may be ready to ride again by then, LOL.

I was in Taxco Guerrero for the New Years and I found a #701 hat and a CDG hat right next to each other with barba hats all at the same stand. To my knowledge isn’t this Rojos and Guerrero Unidos territory? How can they get away with CDG hat that actually says cartel de golfo on it? The 701hat is all over Mexico. I someone bought it as a souvenir and wore it , they definitely get in serious trouble. Not to mention going across the border.

This comment, if it get accepted is to Chivis. I’m the one who asked the question about that midget, I see you deleted my question and your response.....pathetic in my view that you did that. It seems you pick and choose and dictate which comments are posted which is why if THIS comment isn’t posted, I will never post here again as I have for the last 7 years and will give up on the drug war problem as my only source is this website which I preach to anyone at work, home, friends who will listen. Thanks

dont worry about chivis or someonen else about deleting your comments, it happens to me too. Especially when i "blame" the mexican people. But just choose your words more carefuly next time. And you should do some translation work on your own like anybody else. Sure videos are difficult and some webpage too. But this how it goes.

you are too nice to trolls chivis. he still does not get how disrespectful he was to the topic of the berg post. I saw the comment and wondered why it was posted. so the fool is obviously low iq but promises not to comment again and leave BB so no worries.

8:15 looks like your crap got buffalo wings sooo biiig it will not fly no matter what...Why don't you try and find some turkey crowd that helps you lift up on the air?--Shitty shitty bang bang, and Godspeed, goodbye, au revoir, sayonara, hasta nunca comandante!!!I am sorry chivis, but since you are all mine now, what are we gonna do???

Yeah, sure, you better tell the 3 million Mexicans living in Houston that they are in mortal danger! I used to drive down to Monterrey back around 2003. No more. Even the Mexicans that I know with family there don't go back home any longer.

I’m in Vallarta every other month and never felt an ounce of danger. I drive far off the tourist areas and it’s always been a Comfortable feeling. Guerrero I have a different t gut feeling but I also go to Acapulco once a year but now I stay in the tourist Zone. I’m sure thesewarnings are legit but honestly driving around Jalisco has always been very normal and tons of grIngos would tell you the same who live in and around Vallarta. I. Sure something can happen and then it’s too late but I’m from NY we have murder and Muslim terror that can happen at any time. I have mixed feelings about some of these warnings. I’m 25yrs going to Mexico

My cousin in colima just got hit by a lost bullet in a restaurant last week,i guess they went to go kill the owner and a couple of people got hit by accident.now my cousin is holding on to his life.colima was a peaceful little state,good food,nice beaches and very nice people who would say hi to u while walking to the mercado,now people have to be inside there homes when it gets dark!

Thank u,appreciate it! For all u who wanna follow the road to being a narco,think twice...its rare to make money like top bosses,its like making the pros,rare! Most wanna be narco make little not even enough for lawyers,no money is worth hiding and not sleeping! The white man gives out years like people give out candy at birthday partys!

Just spent 2 weeks in zacatecas , I didn't see anything that would alarm me or keep from going back again it was awesome , what I do know and heard was the from calera the airport and towards fresnillo was real bad , that's the areas to stay away from

In the process of planning 3 or 4 motorbikes to go down Baja this spring or following winter (# 13 or 14) with I of them never even been to the U.S. Let alone Mexico.No more night driving and it's not because of hitting goats or cattle.(last time I hit a huge black vulture that didn't get out of the way in time in the daytime but no wipeouts from my end or the bird's.Gotta do the grey whales or the whale sharks again depending on time there.

Worst place I have ever been through was Chilpancingo Gro. Masked men & women had taken over the toll booths....it was right around when the Normalistas went missing a few years ago...I have been all over and thru all of Mexico driving, I am a white girl. Usually with a Mexican man travelling...most places have been safe. I lived in Michoacán also for a while that was a scary place, Apatzingan. I am headed to Cancun in 4 weeks, should be ok my bf is working there, he's Mexican so not worried.

I’ve made two trips thru Baja and one to Nuevo León - in the last year by motorcycle... zero issues with close to 5,000 miles driven. I think it’s like a lot of places in the world, yes lots of trouble & potential for serious problems, so stay aware and don’t go asking for it! Same in the US by the way.

Hide valuables. Burglars know all about looking in the freezer for your jewelry, but would they think to look in that bag of potting soil in the garage? Hint: Tell someone you trust where you hid them...you'll remember all the great spots you considered, and you'll forget the one you picked. Travel